GAM pitches for self-rule at Helsinki peace talks

GAM pitches for self-rule at Helsinki peace talks

Agencies, Helsinki/Jakarta/Aceh

Indonesia is pouring over a proposal from Aceh rebels for self-
government after the two sides reached a broad agreement on
future economic ties, the separatists said on Thursday.

The rebel Free Aceh Movement (GAM) is seeking self-rule for
Aceh province devastated by last December's tsunami that led the
rebels and Jakarta into peace talks to end a decades-long
conflict which has killed some 12,000 people since 1976.

Both sides are upbeat about the progress made during the
latest round of peace talks, now in the third day.

"They (Indonesia and the rebels) are currently discussing the
political framework. GAM has for the first time in these talks
formally presented its position in a document," rebel advisor
Damien Kingsbury said.

"The Indonesians say the proposals would require
constitutional changes, and so it would be difficult."

The political framework includes contentious issues such as
the status of Acehnese citizens and political parties, rules
governing provincial and local elections and changing the name of
Aceh itself, Kingsbury said.

Given that the Indonesia side would need to get legislative
approval for the GAM proposals, he said the current talks could
produce a transitional political framework agreement rather than
a permanent deal.

Indonesian laws currently only allow national parties to join
elections.

Indonesian justice minister Hamid Awaluddin indicated on
Wednesday this approach was bearing fruit, saying the two sides
were making progress.

GAM spokesman Abdullah Bakhtiar agreed, telling Reuters: "We
have come to some kind of mutual understanding of the points
raised on economic issues."

He said this included topics like taxation, excise duties,
distribution of wealth and oil revenue from the resource-rich
province.

Maria-Elena Cowell, a spokeswoman for the Crisis Management
Initiative (CMI) foundation organizing the talks, said optimism
reigned during the dialog. "The atmosphere is being described as
positive," she told AFP.

Her comments echoed upbeat statements on Wednesday from both
delegations claiming they had reached a "point of understanding".

The expressed optimism in Helsinki however stood in stark
contrast to continued fighting on the ground in Aceh and to the
Indonesian Military's announcement on Thursday that it would send
up to 3,000 more troops to the province.

"There is quite some hostility for (the) peace process from
the military and sections of parliament," said London-based
director of the Human Rights Campaign group Liem Soei Liong.

In Jakarta, chief security minister Widodo Adi Sucipto said
the peace talks had failed to bear any fruit as GAM insisted on
its demand for self-rule.

"Although the negotiations have finally entered the substance,
there is no progress yet," he said on Thursday.

Widodo said the detailed demand put forward by GAM for self-
governance has actually been covered in the special autonomy law
on Aceh.

In Aceh, local residents weary of war and disaster urged the
government and rebel negotiators on Thursday to strive for peace
in their province.

"If they really want to struggle for the Acehnese they must
prove it by creating peace in Aceh," said 32-year-old Fauziah,
one of almost half a million people who lost their homes in the
tsunami.

"We have suffered so much because of the conflict and tsunami.
I have nothing, my house, my livelihood are gone. I want to live
in peace and without fear."